2016
2016 January – Rare Kingbird discovered by Gary & Jackie Finger and Tom Bartlett. 2114 people visited the museum. When you shop at GFS or Amazon – they donate back to us. We received an award for our efforts in bringing our inventory online and we welcome Wendy Bromfield, an Americorp volunteer, who will help us streamline our collection and displays.
2016 May – A Roaring 20’s themed gala is planned called Breakers Ball. We have a new library and children’s room. Our new mascot is Tarzan the Talking Dog of Casino fame. A story about the school bell that was donated and the Lodge. Another story about the Island House pitcher that was almost melted in the big fire of 1877. We have a ‘new’ museum. For the first time in 5 years, the entire museum has been reorganized, more items are now on display, and almost 100 descriptive posters have been added (thanks Leslie). There are short tidbits from April 1886 (the island wakes up to spring) and February 1887 (as the Islanders file a petition to incorporate into a Village).
2016 September – In this issue – a report on our Annual Meeting highlighting all our accomplishments for the past year. Our guest speakers were Patti and Madison who talked about Prohibition on the Island and shared some of their experiences as bartenders. President Chuck Herndon shares his Vision of what KIHA might grow into. Lots of items were added to our collection wait till you see the list. We welcome new Treasurer Jodie Smith and we elected Chris Carrig to the Board. There is a report on the Arts & Crafts Show, a whole page celebrating Breakers Ball and there are five new children’s books in the gift shop.
2017
2017 January -This year’s feature display will be Kelleys Island Kitchens. We recognize our Life members, our Patron and Business members and our Volunteers as well as those who were so generous with their donations. Last year’s display, Bars & Saloons, was such a hit, that we moved much of that display over to the Business section of the museum to make room for the new display.
2017 April – A few fun facts about our visitors and followers, Some of what we have been doing all winter, An interesting story about Women’s Work (published in 1867 in the Islander), We remember Ila Dick, A sneak peek at the hunky men of Kelleys Island calendar, We say thanks to everyone who donated, We celebrate the new windows in the church and thank our benefactors, We list just some of the items we received for our collection, And finally, We thank those businesses that support us!
2017 July – In this issue: A husband makes Hotcakes c1872, The Men of Kelleys Island calendar is a success, the upcoming Annual meeting speaker is Kristen Fussell speaking on Lake Erie’s critical issues. We say goodbye to Carol Frindt. Members get a discount on the rental of the historic stone church. Kevin Pape shares the history of the bowling alley house. Along with a retro Kelleys Island Kitchen display, we also added a Farm Life section. We now have five hand sewn quilts and Teri Behrends’ 2017 quilt is unveiled. The first waterline is installed in 1894
2017 October – The President recaps his report from the Annual Meeting. the Parsonage Resale Shop opens, why Oral Histories are so important, a list of our museum volunteers, some tentative long and short term plans. Ned Williams and Dawn Soldner are elected to the KIHA board. A little on our donor appreciation cocktail party. Mrs. E. K. Huntington hosted a meeting of the women voters of Kelley’s Island on July 7, 1894. Sixteen ladies were present. Loads of items donated to the museum.
2018
2018 January – New displays for 2018 (electricity and the Island and bathing suits and the Island’s bathing beauties). Our Resale Shop was a whopping success. Leslie Korenko puts Part 1 of the Kelleys Island walking tour online (E. Lakeshore from the ferry dock to downtown). We had 2,020 visitors in 2017. A small story about Captain Magle and George Schardt. KIHA receives a $50,000 donation from Pierce Broadband.
2018 April – A sneak peak at our new sign; meet new gift shop manager Beth Rybus; a tidbit from 1894 about Schardt’s Hall and Carpenter’s Grove; we remember Betty Pape; and a story about fishing nets featuring Thomas Miller and George & Carrie Suhr. Part 2 of Leslie’s Walking Tour (from downtown to the History Museum) is now available. We say thank you to Scott Stevenson, Teri Behrends, Bruce Korenko and Steve Mack; share some of the best comments we received; and there is a list of items added to our collection including an ice box, a sea chest, and a farm cultivator (among others).
2018 July – We changed some dates: The Murder Mystery Masquerade is on August 18 and our Annual meeting is now August 25. Sign up for the Arts & Crafts Show. We have two Board positions up for election at the Annual Meeting. Our new business member is Portside Marina/Dockers, find out who won the 50/50 raffle for May and see what someone found on the Island. We share photos of our featured displays and a partial list of items added to our collection. Teri Behrends writes about what it was like living in the Parsonage house and we list all the repairs that we have undertaken there. View all the photos we took on Opening Day at the museum, Get your tickets for the Murder Mystery Masquerade because SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE!!
2018 October – Election results and the President’s message, The Arts & Crafts Show. The victim is revealed (Murder Mystery Masquerade). A section of the Glacial Grooves was removed in 1944 and in 1914 stone from the Island was used to build Henry Ford’s estate in Michigan. The raffle and quilt winners. Our thanks to Tom Pieratt for our new entrance gate. We explore the history of a very unusual chair/table. We bid goodbye to Lee W. Brown and reveal our new logo. Old news from 1894 about the Pure Food Laws. A nice list of donations that we received.
2019
2019 January – A story from January 1877, our visitor stats for 2018, and an unexpected surprise visitor. Kathy Reddinger provided 4 missing issues of the Perchie Press (just 2 more to go for a complete set), which is now online. Work has started on improvements to the Glacial Grooves. We recap our History of Electricity on the Island display. So many people to thank – from our dedicated volunteers to those who made the Murder Mystery Masquerade such a success (and there are 100 photos of the event on our website) and a whole page of some of the really nice items that were added to our collection.
2019 April – Dear Abby talks about what happens to your cherished positions when no one in your family wants them. Read about our new gift ship and the donation from Vi’s Island Treasures. We are raffling off a 2002 GEM electric car. What happened to the historic marker that was once located by Inscription Rock? The Parsonage will be opening soon and find out what we have planned. Find out how to register your KROGER CARD so we benefit. We have a new drop box for your correspondence with us. Welcome new business member: Chicklets Closet. 1877 – read about the water pail at The Lodge and St. Patrick’s Day. The Governor’s office presented us with a Proclamation for our 38 years of service. Wow, see photos of the work that needed to be done on the church floor. Also photos from the 2018 butterfly fest. There is also a story about how we located graves for two of our Island soldiers (Max A. Schnittker and Carl F. Fedderson) who were killed in action. A little story about that c1830’s wedding dress that we have on display. We added a few more items to our inventory and we mourn the loss of Bea Matso.
2019 July – We need volunteers, Amazon donates to us (but only if you sign up), the Arts & Crafts show is August 3, Win the GEM electric car (get your raffle tickets). Newspaper: Kelleys Life, Seascape (1989-1992) and the Perchie Press (1992-1993) are all online on our website. We acknowledge donations and announce the 50/50 winner for May. Discover the importance of a will (to make sure your Kelleys Island treasures work their way back to us). There are loads of photos from opening day and some of the tour groups. We apologize for not giving credit to Rick Holmes for a photo we used. Our displays this year are an expansion on Commercial Fishing and a little history about the Kelleys Island Navy. There is a short July 7, 1894 news article and a great story about the Vermilion Flood of 50 years ago. We have four new business members: Krueger Insurance Agency, Franklin Sanitation, Crooked Tree Vineyard and the Caddy Shack.
October 2019 – Report of the Annual Meeting and President Cindy Herndon’s message, Michael Beatty is elected to the Board, and Chris Carrig, Patti Fresch, Cindy Herndon and Leslie Korenko are re-elected. Explore the links resulting from the ghost hunters when they visited the Island. Check out the photos of our really talented artists who were at the Arts & Craft Show. We announce the winners: the quilt went to Paula Bier and the GEM Car to Rodney Rosado. We get some unusual questions like the mystery fire brick and the “volcanic stones.” Our museum visitors included members from the Lange, Koster and Sabo families, among others. Our 2020 exhibit will feature the Island Doctors and there is a little history about our earliest doctors. We include a few Islandfest and Homecoming pictures. From 1894 we have an odd court case involving abusive names and indecent language in the presence of females. Be sure to check out the new additions to our collection – we got some really lovely and interesting items. And, finally, be sure to check out our business members – they support us – so why not support them? Make sure you tell them that the Kelleys Island History Museum referred you to them.
2020
January 2020 – A look back on how much our museum has changed since 2015. Looking back at our charter members as we celebrate our 40th year. Our first newsletter appeared in 1986 and is online now. We thank our volunteers. Introducing our new gift shop and the volunteer bucks program. A few more photos from Homecoming. We say goodbye to Roger Williams. Fun photos from several 2019 weddings and a few vintage ones too. Christmas in 1871. Introducing Dr. Fann. Suffrage debates begin in 1867. The Grand Pacific House in New Baltimore Michigan is built with KI stone. The Chamber recognizes KIHA’s accomplishments in “creating memorable and important exhibits in its museum, but also thinking of ways to engage the community.” KILA awarded us with “the best organization” in 1994. Check out who visited the museum as 2816 visitors sign in: Road Scholars, John Friedman, Francis Deitrich, Naomi Spencer and Christine Fanning. 1968 the first police handcuffs arrive on the Island. January 1869, the mail boat made a round trip in one day. A really long list of items donated. Finally, the ever expanding list of businesses who support KIHA.
April 2020 – Details about the Las Vegas event planned for August, Small museums are growing more popular. Island Doctor Jane Spaulding writes about how she became a doctor. She served the Island from 1866-1873. KIHA purchases the Haas property next door (1/2 funded by donations). The history of an 1852 penny found on the Island. Kosters Dock suffers severe storm damage. Kudos from the Catawba Island Historical Society. New signage at the Glacial Grooves. So many donations were receive from our November appeal.
July 2020 – Vegas night is cancelled but will be rescheduled for 2021. Meet our Lady Doctors – Dr. Jane Spaulding and Dr. Sarah Henderson as our display this year features Island Doctors in the 1800’s. Our other display describes the great Suffrage debate of 1867. A beautiful June day in 1890. Another of Teri’s beautiful quilts is being raffled off. Election of two Board members at our Annual meeting – meet the candidates. Tourist accommodations on the Island in July 1880. People who have contact us. Donations and new members and a list of our business members.
October 2020 – Meet your new Board members: Alexi Panehal and Ned Williams. Outgoing President Cindy Herndon recaps the year. Officers for 2021: Chris Carrig-President, Patti Fresch-Vice President, Michael Beatty-Treasurer and Leslie Korenko-Secretary. She also finished posting the issues of The Islander II 1937-1938 and thanks to Patti Fresch’s patience in scanning each page, we are now posting the Home Town News 1978-1983 on our website. Datus writes to his brother Irad in December 1847. Check out our long list of business supporters.